Twice Baked Potatoes With Cheese And Bacon

I mentioned on Facebook recently how I had done it again. I bought another bag of potatoes thinking I was out, only to get home and find out… I wasn’t. It’s the story of my life. So I sat. Not immediately, groceries had to be put away. I sat and thought about what I should make. Somewhere I saw a recipe that I was dying to make but I apparently never saved it, tore it out, emailed it to myself or pinned it. So many ways to save something and I failed. Then again maybe, just maybe, I dreamt it. Because no matter how much I search for it, I can’t find anything similar. Peculiar.

I couldn’t dwell on it, potatoes were sitting waiting to be used. Which by the way, those same potatoes sitting in the pantry had a way of spooking me this week. Seriously I’m not always scared easily but a bag of potatoes jumped out at me when I opened the pantry door. I kid you not. The bag moved at me like it was an animal. And it happened again later. You’d think I’d learned my lesson the first time and realize there isn’t an animal in the cabinet. Only that’s not always true because sometimes trouble maker Clyde the cat likes to go in there and chomp away at bags in the bottom shelf. So sometimes there really is an animal in the pantry. Anyway…

I’d never made twice baked potatoes. Baked, yes… though they’re usually grilled. That still makes them baked, sorta. Same concept really. I decided I couldn’t bare to cook a potato or two for a whole hour just to make a simple side dish. So sticking with the baked potato ‘concept’, I microwaved them. Fifty whole minutes less than it would’ve taken in the oven. That’s 50 minutes closer to eating the yummy food you so desperately desire. But if you prefer, bake away. The only difference is you’ll get a crisper shell earlier on.

The final result is still the same… creamy, cheese and bacon filled mashed potatoes, stuffed into crisp potato shells, then topped off with even more cheese and bacon. They’re baked until the mixture is hot and the cheese is completely melting and oozing everywhere. Crispy, soft, cheesy, mouth watering goodness that you need to make.

Beat potatoes with butter, sour cream, salt and pepper to taste. Drizzle in heavy cream until desired consistency is reached. Add cheese and bacon, reserving some of each for sprinkling. Mix well.

Using a medium cookie scoop or spoon, add mashed potato filling to potato shells. Top off with extra cheese and bacon. Bake for 10-15 minutes or until heated through and the cheese is completely melted.

Serve hot with sour cream, if desired.

*I made two, which I really shouldn't have because I only had a nearly three year old to help me out with these. My oldest hates (GASP) potatoes... and even worse, says yuck(!!!) to bacon. But I swear she's had both before, she's just weird. So yeah, I should've have made two. I should've made one and below you'll find the ingredients for one so it can easily be increased to however many you want to eat, by yourself or with a crowd of people.

**Potato should be medium to large size, not super jumbo that you can usually buy individually. It should mostly fit in your hand.

Oh my gosh… these look like the most perfect thing ever right now. So cheesy and there’s bacon involved! I just finished working out and if I had any of the ingredients, other than olive oil and salt, I’d treat myself to one of these.

My mom used to make twice baked potatoes on very special occasions when I was growing up – but they didn’t look anything like this! These have to be the most awesome twice baked potatoes ever – it’s like the perfect combo of potato, cheese and bacon… I’m featuring this post in today’s Food Fetish Friday (with a link-back and attribution as always). Thank you so much for keeping me inspired with such delicious creations…

Oh yes! I did use the microwave for them! That could be why the skins were too soft! How long would you reccomend them going in the oven for the initial process?

Rachel — September 10th, 2012 @ 1:00 pm

It would lengthen the time significantly to use the oven, but you could start out with 45 minutes and as long as an hour in a 350 degree oven, lightly greased with olive oil. The olive oil will help crisp up the skin more. Good luck!